It has been a strange year this year. Our A.P.C.M. (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) was deferred due to the restrictions and so we were unable to close off our usual formal review of the past year and plans for the coming year. We are now able to hold our A.P.C.M. which will be held in the Church immediately following this Sunday’s (25th October) service. Social distancing measures will be enforced.
Please join us in praying for change and transformation in our country and especially in our own hearts and minds as we confront the reality of the past, the challenges of the present and work towards God’s vision of racial harmony with hope for the future. We thank God for the gift of sisters and brothers from around the world who bring so much to us at Christ Church. May God help us to become more fully the rainbow people of God. Do pass your ideas on about how this might become more fully a reality.
Thank you gratefully
Simon
We are publishing a series of pen pictures each day celebrating the lives of people of colour on our Facebook pages. To follow them, why not subscribe to our page
Did you know that the Partnership of Churches in Old Town publish a regular magazine full of local interest and spiritual insights If you would like to receive a copy then contact Mr. George Kennedy our distribution manager:
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ys, Christ Church rarely has a plate collection for donations during services, although there is always an Offertory plate at the rear of the church before and during services.
If you find yourself without change though but have your mobile phone handy you can donate to the work of Christ Church via a simple text.
All you need to do is send a text with the code CCSWINDON £5 ( or however much you wish to give us) to 70450.
The acknowledgement of your text has a link allowing you to agree to add Gift aid to your gift (worth an extra 25% to us at no extra cost to you) if you are a UK taxpayer.
There are a number of ways to give to support the church and its work.You can find out details of how to give to our work in the community here.
Thank you
During the coronavirus emergency, our church, like many organisations today, is suffering severely from a lack of funds.
Our finance team is working hard to implement cost savings whilst still allowing us to maintain a clear and effective presence in the community. We are especially grateful to our many regular givers, either as members of the Parish Giving Scheme or as donors via regular standing order for their continued support.
Like everyone, we are exploring new ways to connect with our congregation and friends. These include a new Pastoral contact scheme called Keep in Touch (K.i.T.). This will be administered by volunteers from our Community and is aimed at ensuring that everyone is regularly contacted and, if required, practical help or reassurance can be provided. We are recording our Sunday services and these can be found on our website. You can find out more about both these on www.christchurchswindon.co.uk.
Inevitably though, income from plate collections, the community centre, church events, weddings and funerals has dried up, leaving us in an increasingly difficult financial position. Fortunately, we do have some contingency reserves and our cost savings and government cost mitigation schemes will help. Unfortunately, this will not last for very long.
How can you help?
By Regular Planned Giving
Regular giving enables us to plan our work and helps reduce administration time and effort as well as improving our cashflow.
If you currently give by Gift Aid envelope or cash: If you are able to use telephone or online banking, please consider making your gift via a direct bank transfer. We would prefer not to handle cash for the time being. Our account no. is 00316343 – Sort Code 30 98 41 (Lloyds Bank). Please use your name as a reference. If you are a UK taxpayer and can add gift aid your donation please contact stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk to give him your contact details. We can then claim the tax you have paid on the amount you have donated, at no cost to yourself.
You can also set up a standing order to the church by completing this form and sending it directly to your bank or building society. https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/files/mandate.pdf
These are difficult times for us all, particularly due to the many uncertainties associated with the progress of the virus and the measures taken to mitigate it. Please do consider how you might continue to support us financially by one of the above measures. If you would like help with any of the above or would like to discuss giving in any form, then please contact Stephen Grosvenor, our Gift Aid Secretary (07885 217077) or stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk
Read a letter about the coming years financial planning from our Treasurer
Stephen Grosvenor – Gift Aid Secretary
For small occasional gifts to the work of the church in the Community
DONR Giving by Text. All you need to do is send a text with the code CCSWINDON £5 (or however much you wish to give us) to 70450. The acknowledgement of your text has a link which will allow you to agree to add Gift aid to your gift (worth an extra 25%) if you are eligible. The cost will be deducted from your mobile account (not recommended for PAYGO)
Although we are unlikely to be able to pack shoeboxes with the children this year due to covid, we are still able to collect items for the shoebox appeal. As with last year, we are supporting Link to Hope, who donate the shoeboxes to families and to the elderly. We will be collecting, toiletries, stationery items, playing cards, sweets, as well as gloves, hats and scarves for the boxes. There will be a box for donations at the back of the church in the coming weeks.
Any questions, please contact me, a box will be provided for your gifts at the back of the church in the coming weeks. If you would like to know more contact Sue Clack at the Sunday service or telephone the parish office. Although Sunday Club is not running at present, it would be great to include drawings from the children in the shoeboxes.
Sue Clack
One of the PCC’s key goals for the year was encouraging us all to grow in confidence and action as an eco-congregation. With this is mind we are looking forward to all that God will
teach us over the next two months through our sermon series.
This week can we recommend the excellent free podcast which can be heard on BBC Sounds entitled ‘What planet are we on?’ launched last Thursday with Sir David Attenborough giving a perceptive interview. Also please consider joining the staff team on one of the series of five webinars produced by the Bristol Diocese Deconstructed Environment Online Conference starting on 19th October when Ruth
Valerio will speak on Why should Christians act and why now?
You can sign up here: https://www.bristol.anglican.org/news/deconstructed-environment-conference-online-thisoctober.php
Despite the recent changes, Church services are still permitted, and we hold a regular 10.00 am service in Christ Church. We review our safety procedures each week in response to attendee numbers and behaviours, so it is important to regularly check service details and information on our website and social media. Plans to re-open St Mary’s for services as soon as possible are also being reviewed. The new
Our main priorities are the health and safety of our community, so things will not be quite the same as usual, but we recognise the importance, for many, of meeting together in worship so have put together this brief explanation of what to expect.
Q. How is the church managing social distancing?
A. We have assessed the seating capacity and space available and worked out the best way to seat everyone to maintain 2 metre distancing. Familiar faces will be on hand to welcome you and show you where to sit. Where possible, worship should be from the central pews – these have been marked with a splendid golden circle (thank you Caroline Pitt) to show where you can sit. The church will be carefully sanitised before and after service.
We know that many of you badly want to connect with your church friends after service. Please though remember social distance rules for your own and others safety and do not block the narrow aisles. If possible either talk at the front of the church or outside.
Q. Must I wear a mask?
A.It is now mandatory for visitors to churches to wear face coverings. The advice is that they should be worn by all those attending a place of worship, including ministers, worshippers, staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors, where there may be other people present; remembering that they are mainly intended to protect other people, not the wearer, from coronavirus Covid-19 and that they are not a replacement for physical distancing and regular hand washing or sanitising.
If you forget your face covering, there will initially be a supply available in the entrance to the church so that you can join us safely. Please take your used mask home with you and remember to bring your own next time.
Q. Can I sit with my family?
A. Families from the same household can all sit together in a pew. The ushers will help to maintain safe distancing and advise you where to sit.
Q. Will there be communion?
A. As normal, services will vary but where communion is offered this will be bread only and will be carefully controlled to minimised transmission risks according to government and church guidelines.
Q. Will the hymn books be sanitised?
A. Sadly, hymn singing is not allowed at the moment, so all hymn books and bibles and other written materials have been removed. Service details are displayed on our screen. Visibility in some parts of the church is limited so we provide an online version of the week’s order of service that you can access using our church wifi. You can find the order of service for the week on our webpage.
The Church has Wifi Access – Look for SSID: christchurch – password fiveloaves.
Q. I usually give cash in the plate when I come to church. I believe this is not advised. What can I do to support the work of the church?
A. We would prefer not to have to expose our volunteers to handling cash but we desperately do need your support. Please take a moment to look at the various ways that you can support us financially here. If none of these apply then do use the pillar donation box at the rear of the church next to the SW door.
Q. Will I be able to talk to my friends after the service?
A. To minimise risk, our service will be shorter than normal, and time will be allowed at the end to catch up. If it is fine, then this is better done outdoors, if not then please make sure that you do not obstruct the aisles or exits to allow everyone to leave safely. It is, obviously, vital to obey social distancing guidelines at all times.
Q. Will it be safe to come?
A. We have carefully assessed the risks of bringing us together and have put in place measures to control and minimise the risk of transmission of the virus. It is not, of course, possible however to mitigate risks completely – everyone attending must evaluate their own circumstances and act accordingly. We all have a responsibility to act responsibly to ensure the safety of everyone else.
If you do not feel it is safe – stay at home and listen to our service on-line. If you know anyone who does not have internet, please encourage them to contact Simon (01793 529166) or the staff team (01793 522832) for details on how to listen to our services via telephone.
